The Crown Princess Wears a G-String
Today's public duties were finally over.
Arciel's visit had been unexpected, but Nydrian had helped him locate the mage, Tigria.
The conclusion was simple: they wouldn't be meeting today.
Things were still largely aligning with the memories of Lee, his past self.
At the very least, events within the imperial palace were highly likely to unfold as scheduled.
Even so, to ensure absolute certainty, Rin returned to his room and made a request of Labin.
"Go rattle the Crown Princess."
"You want me to meet that bitch Rinacien?"
Doing so would reveal the existence of Labin, a survivor of Gutter Alley.
Labin was about to argue, but then she reconsidered.
Meeting Rinacien had been part of her plan all along anyway.
Besides, once she attended the Grand Council as the ruler of Waltercroix, the princess would find out regardless.
Half the reason she had come to the imperial capital in the first place was to see Rin; the other half was to mess with the Crown Princess.
It wasn't just Labin's plan—it was their plan.
"What's the goal, Rin?"
Labin's question carried a mix of worry and caution.
Worry for him, and caution regarding the scheme he was brewing.
Rin shrugged and spoke calmly.
"To keep Morgan Reinhold from interfering."
With that, Rin explained what he wanted from Labin and Lucy.
"We know exactly what kind of person Rinacien is."
"Obviously."
"Target one of her biggest flaws: her impatience. Rattle her."
"That bitch has way too many flaws. They hang off her like a bunch of grapes."
Even Rin, who had once harbored a one-sided crush on Rinacien, couldn't deny that truth.
In any case, he had secured Labin's agreement.
"Lucy."
"Yeah?"
"From now on, no matter what happens, the one who tells you to stop is the culprit."
"Huh?"
As Lucy tilted her head in confusion, Labin chuckled and chimed in.
"It's just Rin's classic cryptic way of giving orders. He does that when it's too complicated to explain."
"I see."
Whatever the case, all Lucy had to do was faithfully carry out Rin's instructions.
While memorizing the instructions, Labin pressed Rin further.
"If you're acting like this, I assume whatever happens next is within your calculations?"
"Correct."
"No matter what happens?"
"No matter what."
"Does that include you getting hurt?"
Rin searched the memories of Lee and shook his head.
Strictly speaking, it was hard to see how he would get hurt.
"I won't get hurt. And besides, I have the charm you gave me."
Rin tapped the pouch hanging from his neck, which contained the lock of her hair. Labin's face flushed red.
In contrast, a dark shadow fell over Lucy's eyes.
"Fine. I'm heading out right now."
"Now?"
"Why drag it out? It's not like I'm meeting that bitch Rinacien for fun. Might as well get the job done quickly."
Reliable as always.
Labin pulled a pair of goggles from her inventory and slipped them on.
Rin opened the window wide to accommodate her.
"You're not going through the door?"
When Lucy asked, Labin offered a sly grin and vanished like a mirage.
"That's what an unofficial visit is all about."
Rin and Lucy stared in awe at the spot where Labin had just been standing. She had vanished without a trace, as if someone had pressed a delete button on her very existence.
"Labin's skills are incredible."
"Yeah, even that elf bitch couldn't match her when it comes to hiding her presence."
Well, now that Labin was gone, it was time for them to get to work too.
"Rin, are you going to keep moving?"
"Of course."
The main event was in two days, and the imperial palace was a massive place filled with countless rooms and hidden chambers.
The timing and location were perfect.
"Today's objective is a hundred percent map completion."
He intended to search every nook and cranny, looting every single item, no matter how trivial.
That was the mark of a true gamer, after all.
The Crown Princess was reading a book on imperial governance.
It was incredibly thick, yet she was nearly finished with it only three days after picking it up.
Even back in Gutter Alley, she had never let go of her books.
Her belief that accumulating knowledge would allow her to stand above brute force and rule over others had always been unwavering.
As she neared the end of the book, Rinacien felt a growing urge to boast about her newly acquired knowledge to Morgan Reinhold.
However, Reinhold had temporarily returned to his family estate to search for a way to restore The Unscarred Boulder, the exclusive shield gifted to him by the Goddess.
They wouldn't meet again until the Grand Council in two days.
Yes, here lay a hidden truth.
If Rin had simply pushed forward blindly, he could have met Tigria today.
Since the mage had no reason to stay by Reinhold's side while he was at his estate, she was planning to lock herself in her room until the Grand Council.
"Sigh, he could have at least sent a letter..."
Rinacien's sigh held more than just simple longing.
They needed to discuss how to handle the upcoming events, including the proceedings of the Grand Council.
Among those matters, the timing of her engagement to Reinhold was of paramount importance.
Reinhold's engagement to Lucy had only officially ended yesterday.
Even Reinhold had never dreamed the Hero would return alive. He had assumed the engagement was automatically annulled by Lucy's death, and with the sudden appearance of the demons, he had been too distracted to give it any thought.
But after securing custody of the Hero through various twists and turns, the moment she arrived at the imperial palace, she had officially declared the engagement broken.
For a brute who only knew how to use force, that was one thing Rinacien appreciated about her.
However, Lucy had immediately grated on the Crown Princess's nerves by executing the knight who had struck the porter.
Regardless, Reinhold was finally a free man on the marriage market.
It was only natural that they set a date for their engagement, given the romantic tension they had shared for so long.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking broke Rinacien out of her reverie.
But the sound was coming from the window.
Could it be Reinhold's messenger crow?
Hoping it was a carrier bird, the Crown Princess looked up, only to find Labin hanging onto the massive window frame, goggles pushed up, grinning widely.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!"
Our elegant Crown Princess shrieked and tumbled backward.
Giving Labin a full view up her skirt.
"Whoa, is that a G-string?"
Always prepared, I see.
Labin was genuinely impressed.
"I've learned a thing or two today."
She meant it.
Servants and knights rushed in at the sound of the scream, but Rinacien, unwilling to show herself in such an embarrassing state, dismissed them all, claiming it was nothing.
"How are you still alive?"
Hurriedly ushering the thief inside before anyone could see, the Crown Princess demanded an answer without even offering her a seat.
The grin vanished from Labin's face, replaced by a cold expression.
"Going straight for the throat, are we?"
"The throat?"
"I barely survived. It's a bit more than just a sore spot."
She crossed her arms with exaggerated annoyance, putting on a displeased face.
"Because of your single order, the companions I spent over ten years with all died. Even Lee..."
"Lee?"
"Ha, don't tell me you've forgotten him?"
From Labin's reaction, Rinacien deduced that the thief was unaware of Lee's—Rin's—survival.
A bit sloppy, aren't we?
Well, she probably never imagined Lee could still be alive.
Realizing she held a useful card in her hand, the Crown Princess relaxed and countered with ease.
"So? Did you come to avenge him?"
"I'd love to, but the world isn't that simple."
"Is that so?"
"I never imagined you were of imperial blood. I thought you were just some minor countryside noble at best."
Seeing Labin's frustration was incredibly satisfying.
Yes, this is how it should be.
You should writhe in despair, helpless under the weight of my status and intellect.
Knowing this trashy sense of superiority all too well, Labin squeezed her eyes shut and spat out her words with bitter resentment.
"I'll admit it. I, Labin the Thief, always won the battles, but in the end, you won the war, Rinacien."
It was a line that didn't just show complete submission like a dog rolling over; it reminded Rinacien that Labin had once been a formidable rival, making the taste of victory all the sweeter.
Had Rin seen this, he would have admired her performance, recognizing it as a classic trope from his past life.
This declaration of defeat left Rinacien thoroughly pleased.
"Hmph, loser. I heard you became the ruler of Waltercroix. I was actually looking forward to our meeting, but what brings you here first? Surely you didn't come just to reminisce."
Even a fallen dragon is still a dragon. The fact that the person who had once troubled her in Gutter Alley was now the ruler of a major city only elevated Rinacien's own status for having defeated her.
"Waltercroix is in a precarious state after two of the Triumvirate guilds collapsed. We need a powerful backer to protect us."
"And to secure that protection, you're willing to bow your head to your enemy?"
Labin grit her teeth at the mockery.
"The moment the Holy Kingdom found out about the alley... our annihilation was already set in stone. The Empire and the Holy Kingdom were just the ones who pulled the trigger. Besides, who in the world would care about a slum being cleaned up? If anything, they'd applaud."
"You understand well. Indeed, ending it with my own hands was the greatest mercy I could offer as royalty."
This genuinely provoked Labin.
She felt a surge of intense anger and wounded pride.
The fact that the alley had been destroyed by a bitch like this, and that her composure was being shaken by her, irritated her to no end.
"Still, you should have spared Lee. He followed you to the very end."
The Crown Princess felt a wave of pity for Labin.
You and Arciel are both useless beyond being mere muscle, all because of your foolish sentimentality.
But as it happened, Rinacien needed a muscle of her own right now.
"Aren't you painting me as far too heartless?"
"What do you mean?"
The vain negotiator immediately played her only card.
"Lee is alive."
"What...?"
"I offered him the position of my chief chamberlain, but he refused. So, I stabbed him with a silver dagger about the length of two fingers to fake his death."
"Where is he?"
"Well, I wonder. But he is certainly within my reach, and far from yours."
"Tell me where he is. If you do, I'll become your eyes and ears."
The head of the Thief Guild, the source of all information, and the ruler of a commercial city offering to be her eyes and ears.
It was an incredibly tempting offer.
"You have the order wrong. Show me your sincerity by serving as my eyes and ears first, and then I will tell you where he is."
"Tsk."
"Don't try anything foolish. Otherwise, I might have to finish what I should have done five years ago."
"You'd kill him?"
"Oh, was that also something that should have been done five years ago?"
Labin had to hand it to her.
Even though she was the one holding all the real information, Rinacien had managed to get under her skin.
"Fine. But that includes protecting Waltercroix as well."
"Of course. It would be troublesome for me if the headquarters of my eyes and ears collapsed."
"...Keep your promise."
Labin walked toward the window with slow, heavy steps on purpose.
Take the bait, Rinacien.
You're always greedy, never satisfied.
"Wait."
Yes!
Stiffening her expression once more, Labin turned back. The Crown Princess covered her mouth with a fan, adopting a haughty posture.
"I'd like to verify if you're actually useful eyes and ears."
In short, she wanted valuable information right now.
This was the exact moment Labin and Rin had been waiting for.
Letting out a deep sigh, Labin whispered two pieces of information quickly and quietly.
"For some reason, the Hero, Luciena Estelle, is completely infatuated with her porter. You probably know this, but she keeps him by her side constantly, even letting him stay in her room."
"Yes, that rumor is quite well-known after yesterday's incident."
Fawning over a porter like the lowborn she is.
Birds of a feather.
"But the Hero seems extremely bothered by her past engagement to Lord Reinhold. She's anxious that the porter might get upset because songs about the 'City of Romance' are being sung all over the Empire."
"Hmph, I don't care for those songs either."
Nothing special.
But at Labin's next words, Rinacien's indifferent attitude vanished instantly.
"So, she wants to kill Lord Reinhold."
"What?!"
"I received reports that she actually almost killed him in the Zramun Archipelago, but the porter held her back. In other words, if you want to tame Luciena, you need the leash that is the porter."
"That lowborn wench, how dare she...!"
She had to call Reinhold immediately.
What if that crazy bitch went wild and charged into the estate of Reinhold, a high noble of the capital, with her sword drawn?
She had to bring him into the imperial palace, where she couldn't just swing her sword freely.
And yet, Reinhold was shut away in his estate, completely oblivious to this!
"Oh, and since Lord Reinhold became completely single as of yesterday, marriage proposals and matchmaking requests from noble families have been flooding in."
That was the final blow.
"Is that... the truth?"
Rinacien demanded confirmation, her voice dripping with ice.
"Just today, right before I came to see you, five carriages carrying noble ladies entered the Reinhold estate."
"And... Reinhold didn't even inform me of this...?"
The Crown Princess trembled with rage, completely forgetting about Labin.
"When I...! When Rinacien Carlun is right here as his fiancée!"
"You're not his fiancée yet."
"What did you say?!"
"Don't you have to actually declare the engagement to be fiancé and fiancée?"
"How dare a lowborn like you lecture me on etiquette!"
"Of course I don't. But your eyes and ears just gave you two pieces of information that seem very important to you right now."
Labin lightly leaped over and opened the window.
"Go sort that out, and make sure to help Waltercroix. And leave Lee out of this."
Leaping out silently, Labin left her with a final word.
"I'll be in touch."
After Labin vanished, Rinacien opened her book on imperial governance with trembling hands.
Where had she left off? Right, the correlation between political marriages and power...
Crack.
"Damn it!!"
Unable to contain her fury, the Crown Princess slammed her fist down onto the book.